Blood Fiend's Final Dissipation and the Guiding Incense

Hui Ming's Rebirth Incantation was like morning light piercing through dark clouds. Though it could not completely disperse the Blood Fiend that had accumulated within the ancient tower for centuries, it successfully shook its foundation. The roiling resentment grew chaotic, the Ghost Soldier Guards' movements became increasingly sluggish, and even the blazing blood-red flames surrounding the Headless Ghost General Blood Fiend flickered like candles in the wind, its aura visibly weakening!

This crucial weakening became the final straw that broke the camel's back!

"Now!" Su Yan endured the waves of dizziness caused by excessive Spiritual Power consumption, but a sharp light burst from his eyes. Holding nothing back, he poured the remaining Star Power in his body into the Compass. The ability of [Star Track Deduction] was pushed to its limit—not for prediction, but for locking on!

An invisible trajectory formed from the Power of Stars instantly wrapped around the Ghost General Blood Fiend's massive body as it continuously swung its great blade, especially the severed-neck core blazing with blood flames! The trajectory did not bind it, yet it made the flow of its energy and the direction of its movements clearer than ever in Su Yan's perception!

"Brother Mo Hen, armor-piercing crossbow—aim three inches left of the severed neck, at the Energy Node!"

"Bai Zhi, [Golden Cudgel Spell] at maximum power! Disrupt the stability of its Soul Fire!"

"Xingxuan! Sky-rending strike—follow my lead!"

Su Yan's commands were urgent and precise, like those of a battlefield commander. With the Compass's assistance, it was as if he possessed a god's-eye view, twisting everyone's strength into a single rope amid the ever-changing battle!

Mo Hen did not hesitate. The mechanical crossbow was calibrated in an instant, and a specially made bolt carved with armor-piercing runes shot toward the spot Su Yan indicated like a venomous snake leaving its hole! Hiss! The bolt buried itself deep within the solid blood flames. It did not cause massive damage, but it abruptly stalled the energy flow in that area!

Almost at the same time, Bai Zhi pressed her palms together. Her Sanskrit chant rose high and solemn, and an incomparably condensed golden ring appeared out of thin air, tightly encircling the Ghost General's severed neck! The power of [Golden Cudgel Spell], enhanced by the lingering effects of the [Vajra Demon Subduing Talisman], reached its peak. The blood flames boiled and twisted like water struck by a boulder. The Ghost General released a painful mental roar, and its movements instantly stiffened!

Now!

Without needing another word from Su Yan, Xingxuan, linked to his mind, had long been poised to strike! The Star Map Veins across its body erupted with dazzling silver light. The crystal on its forehead resonated with the star vortex at its tail, gathering all its power, battle intent, and absolute obedience to its master's command into its next charge! [Star Vortex Sky Rend Strike]—beyond the limit!

"Whoosh—!"

A silver gleam condensed to the extreme, as though it had torn a thin black line through space itself, struck after yet arrived first, even surpassing sound! At the instant the Ghost General Blood Fiend was completely restrained, it plunged with incomparable precision straight into the core of its severed neck!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The Ghost General Blood Fiend's massive body completely stiffened, its half-swung great blade suspended in midair. The boiling blood flames at its severed neck seemed to have had their source extinguished. They abruptly contracted inward, and then—

"Boom!!!"

It was not an earth-shattering explosion, but a dull sound of collapse that seemed to come from the soul itself! Countless twisted, wailing phantoms of resentful souls poured from the gaps in the Ghost General's armor, only to melt into wisps of green smoke like snow under the faint Rebirth Incantation drifting in from outside the tower. Its heavy bronze armor shattered inch by inch into powder, while its enormous body began to collapse and dissipate like a sandcastle.

Pure experience energy surged into the four of them, accompanied by several drops glimmering with faint light. But no one had the energy to care about them now. They all slumped to the ground, gasping for breath, their faces filled with the exhaustion and joy of surviving a disaster.

[System: Successfully killed 'Headless Ghost General Blood Fiend' (Level 40 Boss)! Obtained a massive amount of experience!]

[System: Congratulations, you have reached Level 32!]

[System: Your summoned beast 'Xingxuan' has reached Level 32!]

[System: Successfully purified the core of the 'Lanruo Temple Ancient Pagoda Seal,' preventing the Blood Fiend Ghost General from breaking the seal! Obtained 1000 Merit Points.]

[System: The [Damaged Compass] absorbed a trace amount of dissipated rule-distortion power. Repair progress increased to 60%! New function unlocked: 'Energy Trace' (can track and analyze specific residual energy).]

A string of system notifications flooded the screen. Su Yan had finally reached Level 32, taking both the total amount and purity of his spiritual energy to a new level. Xingxuan leveled up alongside him, its aura becoming more condensed. What delighted him most was the [Energy Trace] function unlocked when the Compass reached 60% repair progress. It would undoubtedly be of great help in tracking the End Times Cult and investigating the Rule Tumor in the future.

"Finally... it's over." Mo Hen wiped at the nonexistent cold sweat on his forehead and looked at the Ghost General's remains gradually fading from the ground, still shaken. "A Level 40 Boss really isn't something we can handle easily at our current level. If not for Master Hui Ming's Buddhist Talismans and Rebirth Great Array, as well as your miraculous Compass command, Brother Su, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Although Bai Zhi was exhausted, her face held a compassionate expression. Pressing her palms together, she softly recited a Buddhist Chant. "Amitabha. May this general and the soldiers under his command seize this chance to be reborn in paradise and escape their suffering."

Yun Ji nodded slightly. Her gaze swept across the now-empty first floor of the tower before finally settling on the Compass in Su Yan's hand. "Fellow Daoist Su's battlefield command was as smooth as moving an arm. The Compass's contribution was immense. Its mysteries far surpass those of ordinary Magic Treasures."

Su Yan smiled and was about to speak when Xingxuan rubbed its head against his hand and let out a soft whimper. The crystal in its vertical eye revealed a hint of fatigue, but even more satisfaction. He quickly took out food and Stardust Crystals to feed it, then lovingly stroked its cold yet sturdy shell. "You worked hard, buddy."

After resting briefly, the group began inspecting the items dropped by the Ghost General. Apart from several good-quality [Blood Fiend Crystals] and [Yin Iron], the most eye-catching items were a palm-sized [Tattered Military Token], damaged around the edges yet emitting faint spatial fluctuations, and an [Immortal Battle Soul Heart (Quest Item)] wrapped in dense bloody light, constantly struggling to break free yet seemingly restrained by an invisible force.

"This Battle Soul Heart should be the core maintaining the Ghost General's existence, as well as one of the manifestations of this place's rule distortion," Yun Ji analyzed. "As for this Military Token... it appears to contain a faint spatial coordinate."

Su Yan picked up the Tattered Military Token. It was icy cold to the touch. He tried channeling a thread of spiritual energy into it, and the token glowed faintly, projecting an extremely blurry and incomplete phantom map that seemed to point toward a corner of an unknown Ancient Battlefield, filled with the smoke of war and Death Aura.

"Looks like this Ghost General and his army have more of a story behind them." Mo Hen rubbed his chin. "This token might be connected to some follow-up quest or hidden map."

Just then, Hui Ming's chanting outside the tower gradually came to a stop. Footsteps sounded, and the gray-robed monk appeared at the tower entrance. His face was even paler than before, clearly showing that arranging and sustaining the Rebirth Great Array had taken a considerable toll on him. Yet when he saw the dissipating Ghost General and the unharmed group, a trace of relief still appeared in his eyes.

"Amitabha. Congratulations, benefactors, on overcoming this calamity." Hui Ming pressed his palms together. "The Ghost General has been vanquished. Its core resentment has temporarily been sealed within this Battle Soul Heart. Once this humble monk finds a place steeped in profound Buddhist teachings, I will perform rites for its salvation. The greatest danger here has been eliminated. Without the Blood Fiend's nourishment, the Ghost Princess in the temple remains dangerous, but she can no longer become a major threat. Given time, she may dissipate on her own, or perhaps be redeemed by someone destined to do so."

His meaning was clear. With the ancient tower's core problem resolved, Lanruo Temple's threat level had greatly decreased. They no longer needed to confront the strange [Wailing Ghost Princess] head-on.

Su Yan handed the [Immortal Battle Soul Heart] and [Tattered Military Token] to Hui Ming. "Master Hui Ming, it would be most appropriate to leave these in your care. This token seems to hold another secret."

Hui Ming accepted the Battle Soul Heart and carefully sealed it with Buddhist arts. Then he studied the token and pondered for a moment. "This item... appears to be connected to an Ancient Battlefield ruin called the 'Blood Barrier.' Rumor has it that it was an outer battlefield from an ancient war between humans, demons, and immortals. Countless people died there, resentment reached the heavens, and space itself is extremely unstable. This may be one of the tokens needed to enter it. However, the Blood Barrier is exceptionally dangerous and is absolutely not a place you should visit now."

Another clue to a high-level map. Su Yan silently committed the name "Blood Barrier" to memory.

"Thank you once again for your tremendous help, Master Hui Ming." Su Yan solemnly expressed his gratitude once more.

Hui Ming waved a hand, removed the large wine gourd from his waist, pulled out the stopper, and unexpectedly tipped his head back for a drink. It formed a peculiar contrast with his compassionate, otherworldly demeanor. Wiping his mouth, he smiled. "This humble monk merely went with the flow and formed a good karmic bond. You benefactors bear heaven's mandate, and the road ahead will be difficult. I hope you can remain true to your hearts and cleanse away corruption."

He paused, then mentioned as if casually, "The Compass in Benefactor Su's hand seems quite sensitive to Netherworld Breath. If you wish to enter the Netherworld, traveling through the cracks in the Yin-Yang Path alone is extremely dangerous and will not easily lead you to its core. Perhaps... you may seek the 'Ferryman' and travel by way of the 'River of Forgetfulness.' That would be the proper path."

"The Ferryman? The River of Forgetfulness?" Su Yan's heart stirred. This was new information. "Please enlighten me, Master."

"The Ferryman's whereabouts are elusive, and only those with fate may encounter them. However, they occasionally appear by waters where yin and yang meet and resentment runs deep. If you light this Netherworld Guiding Incense, you may be able to draw their attention." Hui Ming took out three slender sticks of dark-colored incense that gave off a strange cold fragrance from his sleeve and handed them to Su Yan. "Remember, the Ferryman can be righteous or wicked, and the 'fare' they demand is no ordinary price. You must proceed with caution."

[Netherworld Guiding Incense] (Special Item): Can be lit in specific environments, with a certain chance of attracting a Netherworld Ferryman.

This was undoubtedly an unexpected delight! With this item, they had more options for reaching the Netherworld, perhaps allowing them to avoid traps laid by the End Times Cult at certain unstable Yin-Yang Path entrances.

Having finished his instructions, Hui Ming did not linger. He uttered a Buddhist Chant, held his monk's staff, and drifted away to continue his journey of wandering and guiding souls onward.

Watching the direction in which Hui Ming disappeared, Su Yan tightened his grip on the three sticks of guiding incense in his hand. The matter of Lanruo Temple had temporarily come to an end, and their levels and strength had improved and stabilized to some extent. Next, it was time to make more thorough preparations before truly entering the Netherworld. Should they first seek the Ferryman, or use the Compass's new [Energy Trace] function to continue tracking down the End Times Cult's other bases in the human world?

A new choice lay before them.